The Pulsating Parasite: The Green-Banded Broodsac
Sunday, 15 June 2025
Just when you think it’s safe to go back in the garden,
the natural world pulls another fast one on us. The picture above is a snail
infected with a parasitic flatworm that goes under the (rather menacing) name the green-banded
broodsac. Found mostly in Central and
Eastern Europe, its binomial scientific name is Leucochloridium paradoxum which
translated means “strange little white-green creature”. Isn’t that just the understatement of the decade?
Some might be inclined to exchange paradoxum with nauseosum (nausea inducing) because although it looks strange in a photo, you should see this creature in… motion. So, if you are even remotely squeamish by nature, don’t read on. And certainly, don’t play this video (definitely not narrated by David Attenborough). Don’t say you weren’t warned…